Apparatus for grinding, smoothing, and polishing plate-glass.



PATENTBD MAY 29, 1906.

. r E. BAGNALL. APPARATUS FOR GRINDING, SMOOTHING, AND POLISHING PLATEGLASS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24, 1905.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

jmeni'on Mgdfuld llLl lllllllu No. 822,096. PATENTED MAY 29, 1906.

E. BAGNALL. A APPARATUS FOR GRINDING, SMOOTHING, AND POLISHING PLATEGLASS. APPLICATION FILED JUNBZL, 19 o5.

s SHEETSSHEET 2.

mmmmmmammmmmmmwmmmwmmmamuw wm aw PATENTED MAY 29, 1906.

. B. BAGNALL. APPARATUS FOR GRINDING,' SMOOTHING, AND POLISHING PLATEGLASS.

-- APPLICATION FILED JUNE'24, 1905.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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PATENTED MAY 29, 1906.

E. BAGNALL. APPARATUS FOR GRINDING, SMOOTHING, AND POLISHING PLATEGLASS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24, 1905.

" 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

MMMWMWMWMMMA No. 822,096. .PATENTED MAY 29, 1906.

E. BAGNALL. v APPARATUSFOR GRINDING, SMOOTHING, AND POLISHING PLATEGLASS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24', 1905.-

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- V4 47 aw UNITED EDWARD BAGNA LL. OF

PATENT carrot).

PI'IYISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO ZOFFER PLATE GLASSMANUFAGTURING-COMPANY, OF PITTS- BURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OFWEST VIRGINIA.

APPARATUS FOR GRINDING, SMOOTHING, AND P OLISHING PLATE-GLASS.

Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inApparatus for Grinding, Smoothing, and Polishing Plate-Glass, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompany- IO ing drawings, forming part of the specifica- 2o verticalsectional view on'the.

2 5 ner of attaching the grinding elements.

tion, in wh1ch,

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved aparatus for grinding, smoothing,and polis mg plate-glass. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal verticalsection therethrough indicated by the line H II of Fig; 1. Fig. 3 1s aplan View of the 'rotating table, showing a mo tion and arrangement adated to support a plurality of plates indepen entl Fi 4 is a line .1 IVof Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the eccentricall '-rnountedrotating runners. Fi 6 is an en arged sectional detail view throug aportion of the runner, illustrating the mhan- 1 7 is a similar vlew of aportion of the tabla showing the manner of supporting the plate of glassbefore exhausting the air. Fig. 8 is a similar view, the air having beenexhausted and showing the plate resting solidly upon 3 5 removablesupply-Qpipe.

the supportmg-abutments. Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional detail view ofone of the runners and its connected parts, illustrating a hollowspindle provided withmy improved Fig. 10 is a detail view in elevatlon'of one of said removable pipes.

y apparatus for invention relates to im rovements in grinding, smoot mg,and pol- 40 ishing plate-glass, and has for its object to provideimproved means for su porting the lates of glass both before and afterexhaustmg the air from underneath the plate to provide a resultingholding pressure of the atmosphere, also to means for effectively oxsupp hausting the air from one or from a plurality of searatelgsupported plates, means for ing a rasive material to the runners,

toget er withvarious other features of im-' as shall be more fullyhereinafter set forth.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 24, 1905. Serial No- 266,809.

ified construcatented May 29, 1806.

Referring now to the drawings, 2 represents the rotating table, uponwhich the glass plate or plates to be polished are supported, the tableconsisting of a latform of cast-iron or other suitable material mountedupon a turn-table base 3, so arranged as to be rotatably supported uponany suitable mechanism, as a series of concentrically arranged castersor rollers 4, the turn-table and entire platform being rotated in anysuitable manner, as by cables 5, passing around suitable grooves in theturn-table periphery.

The upper surface of the table is provided with a series ofbearing-abutments 6, of rubber or other suitablecus'hioning material ofsuilicient strength to uphold the lass plates under the grindingoperation, ut suiliciently resilient to give slightly under saidpressure and to thereby permit the lates'to become" veniently be made inone or a series of molded sheets entirely covering the area of the tableand so constructed that when surrounded by a suitable packing theintervening spaces 7 between the abutments communicate throughout invarious directions and constitute a chamber from-which the air may beexhausted by withdrawing it from any one or more points. For the purposeof effecting such withdrawal of the air or creating a partial vacuum Iprovide a series of pipes 8, extending up'through the bottom portion ofthe table, as shown in Fig. 2, and connected with a central shell 9,forming an integral rotating ortion of the platform and turn table.

rom the central chamber within said tube 9 the air is exhausted by meansof a pi e 10, leading from the base to any suital) e exhaustingmechanism, as a piump. By this construction itwill be seen t atcommunication is established between the pump and all of the vaiiousconnections leading to the interstitial passages 7 either duringrotation or the stationary status of the table.

For the purpose of packing around the entire outer edge of the platform2 or around segregated areas thereof, as in Fig. 3, and hermeticallyinclosing all or any desired portion of the cushion-abutments' 6 Iprovide a pneumatirtulw ll of sullicient stiffness tov uphold the weightof the glass .plate, but of suflicient flexibility to compressthereunder, due tothe pressure of the outer atmosphere, when the air hasbeen exhausted from underneath the plate, the operation being clearlyillustrated m Figs. 7 and 8. a

The plates having been placed .upon the platform and the air exhaustedfrom underneath them, they will com ress the resilient pneumatic tubes11 and wi I also rest downwardly upon the abutments 6, which will thusprovide a continuous series of closelybe emplo ed, as valves 12, bywhich air may be a mitted independently underneath 1 The any of thevarious plates where several are ground. A particu ar' advantage of suchconstruction 1s that one or more of the platereceiving areas may be cutout from the suction system without interferin with the other areas orthe operation of t e vacuumprod'ucing lant.

) polishing and grinding operation is performed by runners 13, circularin form, preferably two in number, and ofvarying diameters, so arrangedabove the rotating platform 2 that the will operate over different areasthereof, or which purpose one of the runners is larger in diameter thanthe other and overlaps beyond the center of the platform, asshown atteleftofFig. 2. These runners are of any suitable construction ada ted toprovide a solid .ciraular disk-like hea to the under portion of whichare secured the grinding and. oli'shing irons 14, which are secured upagainst the under side of the runners by means of bolts upon anintervenin sheathing 15 of wood, which is also held by cite or otherwiseto the under side of the runners. The irons Mare rovided with a seriesof intervening channe s 16, by which the abrasive material is freetocirculate in various directions outwardly from the center of the runner,for which purpose I have provided an im roved abrasivedeliverymechanism, whic shall be hereinafter described. If desired, however, theabrasive material may be delivered upon the glass plates in any suitablemanner.

For the purpose-of securing the best re-- suits the runners areeccentrically mounted upon the lower ends of driving-spindles 17,mounted in suitable bearings 18 18 in an upper carriage structure 19,mounted upon wheels 20, whereby the entire supportingreatly interferewit seeped framework for the runners, may be run along 6 upon rails 2121 at each side of the platform and over to or from the workingposition. The spindles 17 are vertically movable b mea'ns of levermechanism 22, rovided wit suitable raising and adjusting cvices whichwill be readily understood without detailed description and are similarto mechanism for the same purpose well known in the art. For the purposeof quickly raising the levers 22 and runners 13 away from contact or ofuickly lowering them upon the glass plates t e lovers are pivoted at 23to the upper ends of plungers 24, mounted in cylinders 25 on the upperortion of the framework 19 and connected )y pipes 26 to any suitablesource of pressure, as by flexible hose. By this construction it wil beseen that a ve quick raising or lowering adjustment of lllle ners maylbe secured. 1

For t e purpose of accurately and delicately adjusting the runners theouter ends of levers 22 are provided with the usual temper-screws 27,passin downwardly through suitable bearings an provided with handwheels28, mounted upon their threaded ex-' tremitiesm The spindles 17 andtherunners are rotated through bevel-gearing 29 30, the latter bevelsbeing in spline engagement with the spindles, bevels 29 bein mounted onshafts 31, driven through gearmg 32 33 by electric or other motors M,mounted on the traveling framework, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

By this construction'it will be seen that the runloo

runners may be delicately adjusted to the work, uick raised and oweredtherefrom when esire and rotated by mechanism mounted entirely upon thecarriage.

For the purpose of conveniently delivering the abrasive material to thecentral portion of the runners the spindles 17', Fig. 9, are madehollow, so as to receive the inner tube 34, provided with an upperfunnel 35 and extibm mg downwardly to a point immediately above thelower faces of the ironing-blocks 14, as clearly shown. The constructionotherwise is the same as that ust described, anda particular advantageoi the arrange- Ire ment isthat I am thereby enabled to supply abrasivematerial of diflerent qualities or of different constituent material, assand and emery, to the glass plates without danger of mixing them. Theadvantage of this con struction will be readily appreciated, for thereason that in the o eration of grinding rough plates with sand more orless of the sand is necessarily left in the feeding-tube, whereas in theoperation of polishing such remaining particles of sand becoming mixedwith the eme are liable to scratch the polishing-surface'o the ass andto destroy or its successful polishing.

enacts the abrasive operation of the sand by the removal of thesand-tube and then insert the emery-tube, so that each is separate fromthe other, and any liability of the harmful effects above noted iscompletely avoided.

The operation of the apparatus will be readily understood from theforegoing description. It is capable of grinding and polishing plates ofvarious sizes and of safely supporting them throughout their entireunder surface during the polishing operation, thus preventing danger ofbreakage or warphe invention is comparatively inexpensive to maintain inoperative condition, greatly cheapens and simplifies the finishing ofthe plates, and is Well adapted to the objects in view.

Chan es and variations may be made by the skil ed mechanic in thedesign, proportions, or various details of construction, as I do notdesire to be limited to the exactconstruction shown and described; butall such changes are to be considered as within the scope of thefollowing claims.

What I claim is- 1. In apparatus for smoothing plate-glass, thecombination of arotating table, an integral covering therefor ofimpervious resilient material as rubber having a plurality ofupwardly-extending supporting projections and g a connected series ofintervening air-circulation spaces, an independent surroundingcushioning device, means for exhaustin the air from the cushioningspaces where y a superimposed plate is caused to compress the bearingprojections to make an air-tight engagement, means for rotating thesupporting-table in one direction, and superimposed runners, with meansfor rotating them in the opposite direction, substantially as set forth.

2. In apparatusfor smoothing plate-glass, a rotating table provided witha series of resilient supporting-abutments and intervening communicatingair-circulation spaces, and a surrounding cushion, with means forexhausting the air from the circulation-spaces, substantially as setforth.

3. In apparatus for smoothing p ate-glass, a rotating table providedwith a series of resilient supporting abutments and interveningcommunicating air-circulation spaces, and a surrounding pneumaticcushion, with means for exhausting the air from the circulationspaces,substantially as set forth. 4. In apparatus for smoothing plate-glass, arotating table provided with a series of resilient supporting-abutmentsand intervening air-circulation spaces, with means for exhausting theair therefrom, substantially as set forth.

5. In apparatus for smoothing plate-glass, a rotatingtable provided witha series of intergally-connected resilient supporting-abutments andintervening communicating aircirculation spaces with means forexhausting the air from said spaces, substantially as set forth.

6. In apparatus for smoothing plate-glass, a rotating table providedwith a plurality of series of resilient su porting-abutments andintervening air-circu ation spaces with means for exhausting the airfrom the spaces of each of said series independently, substantially asset forth.

7. In apparatus for smoothing plate-glass, a rotating table providedwith a plurality of series of sup orting-abutments extending above thesurface of the table and intervening air-circulation spaces, cushioningdevices surrounding each of said series of abutments, with means forexhausting the air from the spaces of each of said series independently,substantially as set forth.

8. In apparatus for smoothing plate-glass, a rotating table (providedwith a flat base having an upwar y-extending series of rubber suportmg-abutments and intervening air-circu ation spaces, a surroundingcoinpressible cushion extending slightly above the normal level of thea'butments, with means for exhausting the air from thecirculation-spaces, substantially as set forth.

9. In apparatus for smoothing late-glass, the combination of a rotatingtab e provided with a fiat base having an upwardlyextending series ofresilient su porting-abutments and intervening air-circu ation spaces, asurrounding cushioning device, a central hollow mast, pi escommunicating with said mast and wit the air circulation spaces, andmeans for exhausting the air from the hollow mast, substantially as setforth.

10. In apparatus for smoothing late-glass, the combination of a rotatingtab e provided with a fiat base having an upwardly-extending series ofresilient s'u porting-abutments and intervening air-circu ation spaces,a surrounding cushioning devlce, a central hollow mast, pipescommunicating with said mast and with the air-circulation spaces,provided with valves, and means for exhausting the air from the hollowmast, substantially asset forth.

11. In apparatus forsmoothing late-glass, the combination of a rotatingtab eprovided with a flat base having an upwardly-extending series ofresilient 'su porting-abutments and intervening air-circu ation spaces,a surrounding cushioning device, a central hollow mast, pipescommunicating with said mast and with the air-circulation spaces, meansfor exhausting the air from the hollow mast,

and a superimposed rotating runner, substantially as set forth.

12. In apparatus for smoothing late-glass, the combination of a rotatingtab e provided with a flat base having an upwardly-extendthe combinationof a rotating ta I with a series of upwardly-extending IGSlllBHt;

ing shries of resilient su porting-abutments and intervening air-circuation spaces, a surrounding cushioning device, a central hollow mast, pies communicating with said mast and wit the air-circulation spaces,means for exhausting the air from the hollow mast, and aplurality ofsupleri-mposed runners, substantially as set fort 13. In apparatus forsmoothin late-glass, the'combination-of a rotating ta e provided with aflat base having an upwardl -extend- .ing series of resilient suporting-a utments and intervening'air-circu ation spaces, a sur-.

supporting-abutments and intervening air- .clrculation spaces, asurroundlng cushloning device, a central hollow mast, ipes commu.

nicating with said mast and wltli the air-cira culation s aces, meansfor exhausting the air from the ollow mast, and a plurality ofsuperimposed runners, with means for rotating the runners in a directionopposite to the rotation of the table, substantially as set forth;

15. In apparatus for smoothing late-glass,

the combination of a rotating tab e provided with a series ofupwardly-extendingresilient supporting-abutmentsand interveningaircirculation spaces, a surrounding cushioning device, a central hollowmast, pipes commuculation s aces, means for exhausting the air from theollow mast, anda plurality of-superimposed runners of differentdiameters, with means for rotating the runners ina direction op osite tothe rotation of the table,

substantla ly as set forth.

16. In apparatus for smoothing late-glass, the combination of a rotatingtab e provided supporting-abutments and intervening -air-, circulationspaces,.a surroundingcushioning device, a central hollow mast, pipescommunicating with said mast and wlth the air-circulation spaces, meansfor exhausting the air from the hollow mast, and a superimposedtraveling carriage provided withvertically: adjustable rotating runners,substantially as set forth.

'1 7. In apparatus for smoothing late-glass, the combination of. arotating tab e provided with a series of upwardly-extending resilientsupporting-abutments and intervening aircirculation spaces, asurrounding cushioning mounted on the carriage foractuating the runners,substantially as set forth.

18. In apparatus for smoothing plate-glass the combination of a rotatingtable provlded with a series of supporting-abutments and interveningair-circulation spaces, a surrounding cushioning device, a centralhollow mast, p1 es communicating with saidmast and W1t theair-circulation spaces, means for exhausting the air from the hollowmast,

and a su erim osed travelin oarriage'pro 8o vided Wit vertcally-adjustab e rotating run ners, levers arranged to raise and lowerthe to elevate the-fulcrums ofsaid levers, and

runners, fluid-actuated mechanism arranged screw mechanism for adjustingthe levers on 8 5- their fulcrums, said mechanism being mounted on thecarriage, substantially as set forth.

19. The combination with the rotatin ta- ?ble of a glass-smoothingapparatus, of a g asssupporting cushion consisting of a layer. of' ru er provided with upwardly-extending 1 abutments, substantially as setforth.

20. The combination with the rotatin table of a glass-smoothingapparatus, ofa g asssupportmg cushion consisting of a layer of ru orprovided with upwardly-extending :abutments, and interveningcommunicating gir-rlalirculation openings, substantially as set ort 21.Thecombinationwith the rotatin ta- 1 ble of a glass-smoothingapparatus,of a g assn supportmg cushion consisting of-a layer of. nicating withsaid mast and wlth the a1r-'ciriru =abutments, and interveningcommunicating :air-circulation openings, with a surrounding cushioningdevice extending slightly above er provided with upwardly-extending thenormal top level of the.-abutments,.- substantially as set forth.

\ 22. The combination with the rotatin table of a glass-smoothingapparatus, of a g asssu orting cushion consisting of a layer of withaseries of upwardly-extending resilient vru g abutments, and interveningcommunicating 5 air-circulation openings, v with a surrounding inflatedpneumatic tubeextending slightly or provided with upwardly-extendingabove the normal to level of the-abutments, substantially as set orth.

23; The combination with the rotatin itable ofa glass-smoothingapparatus, of a g ass: supporting cushion consisting of a layer of ru erprovided with upwardly -'extending abutments, and interveningcommunicating air-circulation openings, with a surrounding inflatedpneumatic tube extending slightlyabove the normal top level oftheabutments,

and means for exhausting the airlfrorn the air-circulation openings,substantielly'as set In testimony whereof I affix my signature forth. Yin presence of twe'witnesses.

24. In glass-smoothing apparatus the comv bination with the hollowspindle of 5 rotating EDWARD BAGNALL- 5 runner, of a removable tube forsupplying Witnesses:

abrasive material to the under plortion of the CHAS. S. LEPLEY, runner,substantially as set fort C. M. QLARKE.

